Oil burner ignition means



April 1945. F. H. SCHNEIDER 2,373,266

-oIL BURNER IGNITION MEANS Filed Nov. 16, 1940 66 v Im/en'Z'or 3 Fran]! Fl Schneider tents r. i 14% OIL BER 1G 1 Frank ii. Schneider, Gardiner-{Mam an;

Florence Stove Company, Gardner, Mass, a corporation of Massachetts Application November 16, 1940, Serial No. 365,973

8 Ola.

This invention relates to oil stoves and the like and has particular reference to means for lighting oil burners of the type commonly used therewith.

The invention may be used in connection with the so-called cook stove burner or with the socalled "range oil burner. Both of these burners are of the type utilizing annular oil receiving bases with a wick therein and having extending above perforated concentric sleeves through which the air passes to furnish a combustible mixture.

The principal use of the invention is in connection with cook stove burners. In this type of burner, it is customary to ignite the wick by raising the entire shell stucture from the base, thereby exposing the wick, to which a match can be applied. Ordinarily, 'cook stove burners are mounted under the utensil supports in a sumciently exposed position to be reached easily by the operator, so that no great difficulty has been encountered in raising the shells to get at the wick. Now, however, it is becoming customary to arrange cook stove burners in a square formation in the same manner as the burners of the typical gas stove, that is, two burners in front and two burners behind.

With this arrangement, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to reach the rear burners to raise the shells from the burners for ignition purposes. This is particularly true when the front burners have been in operation and are hot, making it difficult to avoid burning the hand or arm. a By the present invention, there is provided means for igniting the burner wicks of cook stove burners without requiring any movement of the shell structure from the base. Similarly, the invention may beused with range 011 burners, and when so used, provides an improvement over the customary method of range burner ignition in which a lighted taper is the ordinary means.

The invention contemplates the provision of a, special wick which may take a number of specific forms. In the preferred construction, the wick is in twoparts, with a principal or major part extending incompletely around the channel in the circular base. Into the open space between the ends of the maJor part is placed a short wick section, which, when in position, completes the wick formation for proper operation. Means is provided for easily removing the short wick section from its base position to be ignited and then returned to the base, where it will ignite the other major wick.

These and other advantages will appear as the description proceed with the aid 01' the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 illustrates a typical cookjstove burner cut away in part to show the relationship of the base removable wick and shell structure.

Fig. 2 shows the relationship of the major and minor wick portions as they are in the burner.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail showing means used to connect the removable minor wick section to the removing bar.

Fig. 4 is a modified construction showing means for removing the entire wick rather than merely a section thereof.

Fig. 5 is a view looking upward on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1, a circular oil receiving base, in the form of a channel, 2, which may be supported in a stove in any convenient manner, receives oil from a supply pipe d. The upper edges of the channel are flanged at 6 and 8 to support concentric perforated shells Ill and I2. An outer imperforate shell it surrounds the two inner shells and is supported by bar I6 extending from shell I0. customarily, one of the bars 16 is longer than the others, as at l8, and has mounted thereon a handle 20, which provides means for lifting the two outer shells from their normal positions.

The inner shell I2 is closed at the top by the portion 22, which, however, is perforated sufliciently to provide proper draft conditions.

Means for securing shell IE to the base is provided in the form of a bar 26, which extends across the interior and to the lower edge of which at the center is attached a bayonet 26, having extending therethrough a locking pin 28, the legs of which are of unequal length.

Bayonet 26 is adapted to be positioned in a centrally located hole 30 inbase plate 32, which closes the opening within the channel 2. Stops 84 and 86 extend downwardly from plate 32 to engage the ends of locking pin 28.

It will be noted in Fig. 5 that hole 30 has extending therefrom two slot 38 and 40, also of unequal length, to permit the passage of locking pin 28 therethrough. This insures the correct association of shell l2 and channel 2. Thereafter, rotation of shell I2 with respect to the base will cause locking pin 28 to be moved through an angle until it comes in engagement with stops 34 and 36, thereby definitely determining the position of shell l2 with relation to channel 2. The purpose of this construction is to insure alignment of a hole 42 in closure 22 with a hole 44 in plate 82. These two holes are for the express pur- 2 as'raaee pose of providing guide means for a rod 46, which, as can be seen in Fig. 1, is in inverted U-shape, having a long' leg which extends through holes 42 and 44 and a short leg which extends between shells l and i2.

Positioned in channel 2 is a wick, shown in Fig. 2. The major portion 48 of the wick terminates at and 52 and preferably the terminal edges may/be on a diagonal, as shown. Closing the space between these terminal edges is a minor wick section 54, which is generally in the form of a trapezoid to fit between edges 50 and 82 to substantially complete the wick. That is to say, when major and minor portions of the wick 48 and 54 are in position in channel 2, the wick formed thereby will be for operative purposes the same as the continuous wick now customarily in use. That is, if the 'two-piece wick in Fig. 2 is saturated with oil and ignited, ,it will burn the same as if it were all of one piece.

In the preferred form of wick, the major portion 48 will occupy from 270 to 330 degrees of the oil channel, while the minor portion 54 will occupy the remainder of the channel. The most desirable proportions may be determined by experience, but it has been found that a minor wick portion extending through an arc of about degrees provides a size which permits quick development of an adequate flame to commence combustion in the adjacent major portion. It is to be understood, however, that since the principal aspect of the invention resides in the removable characteristic of the wick and means for so doing, coupled with means for redirecting the removed portion of the wick to its original position in the channel, the relative proportions of the major and minor wick portions may be varied as found convenient.

Minor wick portion 54 is removably connected to the short leg of rod 46, as shown in detail in Fig. 3. A piece of perforated metal 58, curved to match the curvature of the wick, is attached to the minor portion by bending the ends thereabout, as at 58 and 80, thereby clamping the wick securely in position. A hole or slot 62 in perforated member 58 is adapted to receive the hooklike end 64 of rod 48 when it is inserted between minor wick portion 54 and member 56. By the exercise of a slight amount of force,- the wick 54 may be sprung away from member 58 so that rod 48 can be removed therefrom when necessary.

Minor wick portion 64 is definitely located in channel 2 by the location of holes 42 and 44. That is, when the long end of rod 48 is inserted in these holes, minor wick portion 54 must assume the position shown in Fig. 1. Thus, the location of the major wick portion is also deflnitely determined. In order to hasten ignition, it may be preferable to have the oil supply line adjacent minor wick portion 54 so that oil will be supplied to this part immediately, thereby making immediate lighting possible.

It will appear from Fig. 1 that minor wick portion 54 may readily be removed from channel 2 by grasping rod 46 at the upper bend and lifting upwardly. Rod 46 is long enough so that minor wick portion 54 may be raised completely above the shells before the lower end of rod 48 has been withdrawn from hole 44. By having holes 42 and 44 close to the circumference of shell 12, it is apparent that when rod 46 is released, minor wick portion 84 must drop back to its original location in channel 2 between ends and 52 of major wick portion 48. That is to say, no skill on the part of theoperator is required in realigning the two wick portions.

It is contemplated by the invention that whatever means may be used for removing the wick to a position above the shell for lighting purposes, it will .return the wick to its proper position in the oil channel without any special attention on the part of the operator. The wick removal means may be guided in any convenient manner. 'The construction shown is preferred, but other means might be used, as, for example, a vertical tube attached to the interior of shell i2 in which rod 48 could slide.

The operation of the invention is as follows.-

Oil is turned on to reach channel 2 through supply pipe 4. The wick becomes saturated, with minor wick portion 54 receiving the oil first. Rod 48 is then raised until wick 54 is exposed above the top of the shells. A match or other flame is applied, causing ignition at once of this minor part of the wick. Rod 48 is then released to return to the position shown in Fig. 1, causing minor wick portion 64 to reassume its position between the ends of major portion 48. The flame will immediately be. picked up by the abutting edges 50 and 52 and will promptly spread around the wick to complete ignition.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Fig. 4, by which construction it is contemplated that the entire wick may be removed to be ignited and then replaced in its normal position within channel 2. In this case, wick 88,'which may be continuous or of several pieces, is connected to a framework 88, which is in the form of two inverted Us crossed at the top. The dimensions permit insertion between shells l0 and I2 to locate the wick in the oil channel. At suitable locations on the wick, in this case ninety degrees apart, are attached perforated metal plates 10, each having a slot 12 therethrough adapted to receive the hooklike end 14 of each of the U-legs. The construction as to this means of connection between frame 68 and the wick is similar to that shown in Fig. 3.

The purpose in having the wick detachable from rod 48 or framework 68 is to facilitate the replacement of a wick should it become necessary. By the detachable mechanism, it is unnecessary to replace the wick-withdrawing means which may be used repeatedly, regardless of the number of wick replacements required.

I claim:

1. An oil burner having a circular channel and having a wick therein, said wick comprising a major portion and a minor portion, a shell positioned on said channel, an inverted U-shaped lifting member having the lower end of one leg attached to said minor wick portion for removing it from said channel to a position above said shell where it may be ignited, and means for guiding the other leg of said U-shaped member to cause said minor wick portion to return to its original position upon downward movement of said U-shaped member.

2. An oil burner comprising a circular channel having a wick therein, said wick consisting of major and minor portions, two concentric shells positioned on said channel with said wick in line with the space between said shells, inverted U- shaped lifting means extending above said shells having the lower end of one leg connected to the minor portion of said wick for removing it to a position above said shells where it may be ignited,

top having an aperture therethrough mounted on the interior edge of said channel, means for positively connecting said shell to said channel and definitely determining an angular relationship between said channel and shell whereby the apertures in said shell and said plate member may be brought to and maintained in a desired relationship, a wick in said channel, means for removing said Wick from said channel comprising an inverted U-shaped member, one end of which is connected to said .wick and the other end of which passes through said apertures in said shell and plate.

4. An oil burner comprising a circular oil channel, a member affixed to the interior circumference of said channel, an aperture through said member near said channel, a pair of concentric shells mounted on said channel, the inner of said shells having a part extending inwardly over said member, an aperture through said part, means for maintaining a fixed angular relation of said inner shell with respect to said channel whereby the apertures in said part and said member will be in vertical alignment, a wick in said channel com rising major and minor portions, the minor por ion located in that part of the channel adjacent said apertures. and an. inverted U-shaped rod'with unequal legs, the long leg slidably extending through said apertures, the short leg extending between said shells and connected to the minor portion of said wick whereby the latter may be removed from and returned to its channel location.

5. An article of manufacture for use withan oil burner comprising a wick of absorbent noninfiammable material and in the shape of a continuous circular vertical band, said wick compris ing two unconnected portions of unequal length, the longer of said portions having its ends diverging upwardly, the shorter of said portions being generally in the form of aninverted trapezoid to fit within the confines of the diverging ends of said longer portion, and connecting means seference of said'channel, a pair of concentric shells mounted on said channel, the inner of said shells having part extending inwardly therefrom over said member, vertically aligned apertures through said member and part relatively close to said channel andsaid inner shell, a wick in said channel comprising major and minor portions, the minor portion located in that part of the channel adjacent said aligned apertures, an inverted U- shaped rod with unequal legs, the short leg connected to the minor portion of said wick and being at least as long as said inner shell, the long leg extending slidably downwardly through said aligned apertures, said long leg being long enough to permit the raising of said minor portion of said wick to the top of said sleeves without causing removal of said long leg from said aligned apertures.

7. An oil burner comprising a circular channel, concentric shells mounted on said channel, a continuous circular wick positioned in said channel, said wick being relatively short in height with respect to its diameter and resting on the bottom of said channel, said wick being formed of two pieces, one piece extending about a major portion of the circumference of said channel, the other portion extending about the remaining minor portion of said channel, and with removing means attached to said minor wick portion for removing it from said channel and shells to a position thereabove where it may be ignited, said wickremoving means extending upwardly from said minor portion between said shells, and means connected to said channel and shells for guidin said wick-removing mean whereby to cause the return of said minor wick portion to its original position between the ends of said major wick portion.

8. An oil burner having an unobstructed circular channel, a continuous circular wick positioned therein and resting on the bottom of said channel, said wick comprising a major and a minor portion, a pair of concentric shells positioned on said channel, wick-removing means extending downwardly between said shells and attached to said vminor wick portion for removing it upwardly from said channel to a position at the top of said shells where it may be ignited, and means assoelated withsaid channel and shells for cooperating with and guiding said wick-removing means so that said minor wick portion may be returned to its original position, the ends of the major portion of said wick diverging upwardly, the

minor portion of said wick being generally in the form of an inverted trapezoid whereby repositioning of said minor wick portion between the ends of said major wick portion will be facilitated.

FRANK H. SCHNEHDER. 

